The baddest badass of them all...
This is the competition that goes on between Democrats and Republicans.
If one wants to raise the military budget by $50 billion, the other will want to raise it by $100 billion. If one wants a new aircraft carrier, the other will want a new fleet of fighter jets.
If one wants to invade another sovereign country, then the other will want to take partial credit for the victory.
If one says our country needs to punish an outlaw leader, then the other can only disagree with the means, not the fact.
This has been going on for several decades. Neither side can be seen as "weak on defense". It is the true third rail of politics. Either side may commit irrational acts just to prove they are badder than the other on national defense.
That is part of the game that is being played out right now with Syria.
The President made a comment about a "red line". If he does nothing, then the other side will say he is "weak on defense" and his Party is not responsible enough to lead our troops and our nation. There is no place for peace.